Inle Lake
We drove down from the cool mountains and visited a Pao tribe farming village. Some of the women were dressed for a ceremony in wrap around red headdresses and black robes with a panel on the back, to resemble head and tail of a dragon lady of legend.
We’re moving to the eastern part of the country, bordered by China, Thailand, and Laos.
On to Pindaya caves, famed for over 8000 Buddhas in its caves. Some are centuries old, left by pilgrims, some are added by Buddhists from all over the world. The caves are reached by covered steps up to the mouth. Simply stunning. Atthe base of the stairs is a massive spider figure from another Burmese legend. I wore a longyi over my shorts to be appropriate for the visit, and the locals were delighted, smiling at me and pointing me out to their friends. Well either that or they were laughing at me!
Down lower to Nyaungshwe on the shore of Inle Lake. It’s hot here in the day but at least cools off at night. We set off in the local taxis, known as tutus,, motorcycles dragging a covered truck bed, to one of the two wineries in the country. The wine is actually drinkable! And of course a great setting to watch the sunset just like every other winery around the world.
In the morning we got on the lake in a big canoe with a motor and seats to see the famous leg rowers. They row the oar with one leg in a snake-like motion as they harvest seaweed and pound the water to scare fish into nets in the shallow water.
Homes are built on stilts, and even some hotel resorts. Some 100,000 people live in and around the lake. We went to a monastery on the lake, which used to be known as the Jumping Cat monastery. The monks in their down time after meditating all day would train the cats to jump through hoops. This has been discontinued due to animal abuse complaints. Honestly. I can maybe see the point with the elephants – but anyone who can train a cat to do anything should get an award! The kitties now just lie in the sun and eat rice from bowls.
Another temple with five Buddhas that at taken out in a barge for a ceremony each year, then lunch at a huge restored home that also houses a Burmese cat sanctuary. This expensive pedigreed cat could no longer be found in the country after the 1930’s, but some were brought back from around the world. These big sable brown cats have their own resort area outside, but most of them were lying together on a big bed in their house. So I got my kitty fix today!
After spending the day on the water, I found a burmese massage, where I wore a traditional outfit while lying on the floor and being contorted by a young girl, just like a Thai massage. $14 for an hour.
We stopped outside a monastery with boy monks visible in the windows for a photo op, then to the airport for short flight back to the sweaty city of Yangon.
Walk to market, then walk around the city including a government building that was bombed in World War II, a whole wing destroyed, it has never been restore but is still in use, and a visit to the elegant Strand Hotel to see its art gallery.